Does Jason Dumas Know Something We Don't About Planned Ben Simmons Booing Groups?
Does Jason Dumas have inside information about a planned barnstorming of the 76ers training camp next week? A coordinated and well-timed attack to boo the living daylights out of Ben Simmons?
No. No he does not.
Amidst the Simmons news today everyone’s favorite “NBA Insider” Jason Dumas threw another dart at the dartboard this afternoon, claiming Ben Simmons wants no part of “several organized groups planning to go boo him in Camden the day camp opens.”
Ben is well aware of how the majority Sixers fans feel about him. There are several organized groups planning to go boo him in Camden the day camp opens. He wants no parts of that.
— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) September 21, 2021
Oh my. We’ll get into why this is a logistically impossible situation, but first I will give Jason some credit. He originally reported in early August that Simmons would not report to training camp or play another game for the 76ers this year. Good job! Quickly thereafter Dumas had to walk back a report from a “source” that Tyrese Maxey would have to be included in any potential Simmons trades and local organizations had been told to cancel any partnerships with the second year point guard. That’s bad!
Source: There’s a high chance that Tyrese Maxey will be a part of any Ben Simmons trade.
Rich Paul would like both of his clients out of Philadelphia.
— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) August 31, 2021
A few local Philadelphia based organizations had planned on partnering with Maxey on some community events. They were told to cancel those plans. Paul would not like Maxey to grow roots in Philly if he could be gone.
— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) August 31, 2021
Update: Tyrese Maxey is excited about this upcoming year with the Sixers as is Rich Paul and the 76ers. Paul does not want Tyrese out of Philly. However, the Ben Simmons situation is totally separate.
— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) September 1, 2021
Not exactly a great job of reporting there, Jason, so forgive us if we take anything and everything you have to say about the Simmons situation with a grain of salt.
But back to the booing…our good friend and Sixers beat writer Kevin Kinkead took a time out from his paternity leave to explain to Dumas why this type of situation is absolutely impossible.
This is not even logistically possible. The practice facility is gated and players park in the middle of the complex, surrounded by buildings. Unless "organized groups" block a public street they won't get a glimpse of the chef, let alone any players. https://t.co/skQp5qxU7S
— Kevin Kinkead (@Kevin_Kinkead) September 21, 2021
Add in the fact that training camp isn’t even open to the public and it all equals a heaping pile of nonsense from Mr. Dumas. Nor has anyone in the city heard of any “organized groups” who hope to go boo Simmons during camp. Seems like something of that magnitude would have a way of finding its way into the social media ether, yet we’ve seen or heard nothing of the sort. Weird!
Not sure who force fed him that nugget (looking at your way, Rich Paul) but everyone quickly saw through his nonsense.
Can you name them? Can you explain how they plan to access the facility? Who are the organizers?
— Bill Matz (@BILLadelPHLY) September 21, 2021
If you know anything about the Sixers practice facility, they don’t let fans in. The only thing fans could do is gather in the street outside while he drives by. He can tune that out easily.
— Delco Clout Chaser (@smokin_steve_72) September 21, 2021
“Several helicopter companies confirm that all helicopters in the Philadelphia metropolitan area have been booked throughout the duration of Sixers training camp. The reason? It is believed fans will be swarming the helipad atop the Camden practice facility to boo Ben Simmons.”
— VORP Lowe (@Zugzwang1776) September 21, 2021
I didn't get the newsletter that said my fellow Sixers fans were gathering in Camden, NJ. If true, which it probably isn't, then Sixers fans worked harder on their game this summer than Ben Simmons did.
— John Saeger (@John_Saeger) September 21, 2021
It is fun to imagine Angelo Cataldi reaching out to the geriatric members of the “Dirty 30” to try and organize “one last scheme” to boo Simmons at training camp. One last chance to get the band back together to give Philadelphia a very public black eye that will be remembered for decades.
If you want booing, just wait a few months when Simmons returns as a visiting player to the Wells Fargo Center. You’ll definitely be able to hear the boos from Camden.